Below is the differences in the upcoming Windows Server 2008 Editions, started off with a summary and 
then followed by features comparison, next by technical specifications in each, and then download links for each edition of RC1.
Windows Server 2008 Edition Summaries
Windows Server 2008 is the most robust Windows Server operating system to date. With built-in, enhanced Web and virtualization capabilities, it is designed to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure while helping save time and reduce costs. Powerful tools give you greater control over your servers and streamline configuration and management tasks. Plus, enhanced security features work to harden the operating system to help protect your data and network and provide a solid, highly-dependable foundation for your business.
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise delivers an enterprise-class platform for deploying business-critical applications. Help improve availability with clustering and hot-add processor capabilities. Help improve security with consolidated identity management features. Reduce infrastructure costs by consolidating applications with virtualization licensing rights. Windows Server 2008 Enterprise provides the foundation for a highly dynamic, scalable IT infrastructure.
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter delivers an enterprise-class platform for deploying business-critical applications and large-scale virtualization on small and large servers. Improve availability with clustering and dynamic hardware partitioning capabilities. Reduce infrastructure costs by consolidating applications with unlimited virtualization licensing rights. Scale from 2 to 64 processors. Windows Server 2008 Datacenter provides a foundation on which to build enterprise-class virtualization and scale-up solutions.
Designed to be used specifically as a single-purpose Web server, Windows Web Server 2008 delivers on a rock solid foundation of Web infrastructure capabilities in the next generation Windows Server 2008. Integrated with the newly re-architected IIS 7.0, ASP.NET, and the Microsoft .NET Framework, Windows Web Server 2008 enables any organization to rapidly deploy Web pages, Web sites, Web applications, and Web services.
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems is optimized for large databases, line of business and custom applications providing high availability and scalability up to 64 processors to meet the needs of demanding and mission critical solutions.
Windows Server 2008 is the most robust Windows Server operating system to date. It is designed to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure while helping save time and reduce costs. Powerful tools give you greater control over your servers and streamline configuration and management tasks. Plus, enhanced security features work to harden the operating system to help protect your data and network and provide a solid, highly-dependable foundation for your business. This product does not include Windows Server Hyper-V.
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise delivers an enterprise-class platform for deploying business-critical applications. Improve availability with clustering and hot-add processor capabilities. Improve security with consolidated identity management features. Reduce infrastructure costs by consolidating applications with virtualization licensing rights. Windows Server 2008 Enterprise provides the foundation for a highly dynamic, scalable IT infrastructure. This product does not include Windows Server Hyper-V.
Windows Server 2008 Datacenter delivers an enterprise-class platform for deploying business-critical applications and large-scale virtualization on small and large servers. Improve availability with clustering and dynamic hardware partitioning capabilities. Reduce infrastructure costs by consolidating applications with unlimited virtualization licensing rights. Scale from 2 to 64 processors. Windows Server 2008 Datacenter provides a foundation on which to build enterprise-class virtualization and scale-up solutions. This product does not include Windows Server Hyper-V.
Source.
Features Included
| Feature Name | Enterprise | Datacenter | Standard | Web | Itanium |
| ADFS WebAgent | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Directory uIDM | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Desktop Experience | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows Clustering | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Windows Server Backup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Network Load Balancing (WLNB) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Simple TCP/IP Services | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| SMTP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Subsystem for Unix-Based Applications (SUA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Telnet Client | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Telnet Server | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| RPC Over HTTP Proxy | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Wireless Client | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Windows System Resource Manager (WSMR) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Simple SAN Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| LPR Port Monitor | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Windows Foundation Components for WinFX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BITS Server Extensions | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| iSNS Server Service | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bitlocker Drive Encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Multipath IO | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Removable Storage Media | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| TFTP | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| SNMP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Admin Pack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| RDC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Peer to Peer Name Resolution Protocol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Recovery Disk | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PowerShell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Enterprise | Datacenter | Standard | Web | Itanium |
| x86 Sockets | 8 | 32 | 4 | 4 | None |
| x64 Sockets | 8 | 64 | 4 | 4 | None |
| IA64 Sockets | None | None | None | None | 64 |
| x86 RAM | 64 GB | 64 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | None |
| x64 RAM | 2 TB | 2 TB | 32 GB | 32 GB | None |
| IA64 RAM | None | None | None | None | 2 TB |
| Hot Memory Add | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Hot Memory Replace | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Hot Processor Add | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Hot Processor Replace | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Failover Cluster Nodes | 16 | 16 | None | None | Yes |
| Fault Tolerant Memory Sync | Yes | Yes | None | None | Yes |
| Cross-File Replication (DFS-R) | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Network Access Connections (RRAS) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 250 | None | 2 |
| Network Access Connections (IAS) | Unlimited | Unlimited | 50 | None | None |
| Terminal Services Gateway | Unlimited | Unlimited | 250 | None | None |
| Virtual Image Use Rights | 4 | Unlimited | 1 | None | Unlimited |
| Remote Desktop Connections | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Download locations of RC1's
Standard
Enterprise
Enterprise with Hyper-V Beta (x64 only)
Datacenter
Web Server
Itanium
Regards,
Anthony
Anthony Clendenen | Solutions Engineer | 1E
http://configmgr.com
© Anthony Clendenen